You'll enter an established cardiovascular team that has been strategically building toward comprehensive cardiac services, with EP as the eagerly anticipated final component. The current team of eleven cardiologists and one nurse practitioner has created a culture where collaboration trumps competition, where physicians actively refer to each other's strengths, and where the shared goal of keeping patients local drives decision-making. Unlike metropolitan programs where EP physicians often battle for referrals and lab time, this team has been explicitly preparing for your arrival, discussing how to share device implantations and ensure your success.
The interventional cardiology team now includes six physicians managing STEMI call, with the recent additions of Dr. Ahmed Elkaryoni and Dr. Jagjit Khosla (structural heart) bringing fresh energy and advanced techniques. The non-invasive cardiologists, Dr. Srilatha Ayirala and Dr. Bassam Saliba, have been managing device patients while eagerly awaiting an EP specialist to handle complex cases. The entire team currently sends ablation candidates to Oklahoma City – a referral pattern they're eager to redirect to you. This built-in referral network eliminates the years typically required to establish trusted relationships with referring physicians.
The EP program will benefit from experienced support staff already comfortable with complex cardiac procedures. The cath lab team regularly handles everything from routine diagnostics to emergency CABGs, with several staff members having 10-17 years of tenure. The cardiac clinic employs five ultrasound technicians, three nuclear medicine technologists, and dedicated nurses who manage the entire pre-operative process on-site. This experienced infrastructure means you won't waste time training staff in basic cardiac care – they already understand the workflows, urgencies, and patient populations you'll serve.
The addition of a structural heart nurse practitioner who can assist with device clinic management represents thoughtful planning for your success. This NP can handle routine device checks, remote monitoring reviews, and stable follow-ups, allowing you to focus on procedures and complex management decisions. The hospital's commitment to sending staff for specialized EP training before your arrival demonstrates their investment in creating a turnkey program ready for immediate success.
What distinguishes this team is their genuine enthusiasm for adding EP services. During planning meetings, the interventional cardiologists have explicitly discussed sharing device implantations to ensure adequate volume for everyone. They understand that a successful EP program enhances the entire cardiovascular service line, bringing prestige and completeness that benefits all practitioners. This collaborative spirit extends beyond mere tolerance – they're actively planning how to make your integration seamless and your practice successful.
The team's approach to the recently arrived structural heart physician provides a template for your integration. They've navigated personality dynamics carefully, ensuring smooth integration while maintaining team harmony. Leadership's awareness of the importance of team dynamics and their proactive management style means you'll have administrative support in building relationships and establishing your role within the group.
Beyond the immediate cardiology team, you'll connect with a broader referral network including Emergency Medicine residents rotating through the ACGME-accredited program, Family Medicine residents, and over 100 Memorial Medical Group primary care providers. The hospital's "One Call" transfer system brings acute cardiac patients from surrounding facilities within 30 minutes, ensuring steady EP consultations from facilities in Duncan, Altus, and smaller communities. These established referral patterns mean you'll receive appropriate cases from day one rather than spending years educating referring physicians about EP indications.
The team's recent initiative to visit outlying communities, meeting PCPs and explaining new cardiac services, demonstrates their commitment to building referral relationships. You'll benefit from these established connections while having opportunities to participate in outreach, establishing yourself as the regional EP expert. The lack of competing EP services within 90 minutes means every physician in Southwest Oklahoma becomes a potential referral source.
This isn't just joining a cardiology group – it's becoming the missing piece in a carefully constructed cardiovascular program. Your colleagues have been preparing for your arrival, planning how to support your success, and eagerly anticipating the ability to provide comprehensive cardiac care without losing patients to Oklahoma City. For an EP physician seeking genuine collegiality over competition, this team offers an increasingly rare opportunity to practice in a truly collaborative environment.